Thread: Redears: the good, the bad, and the ugly...

Originally Posted by jawjatek

Caught about 30, and kept a dozen huge ones for supper (most were gut-hooked anyway).

Are you using a bare hook or a jig head? I've found that using a jig head completely eliminates gut-hooking.

Originally Posted by deathb4disco

Are you using a bare hook or a jig head? I've found that using a jig head completely eliminates gut-hooking.

Yes, a #6 hook with a tiny split shot above it.

I will try that next time I go (I just got a bunch of small jigs off ebay with #6 hook); makes sense to me. Are you working the jig or letting it sit?

EDIT TO ADD: that was what I had to do today to get on fish; that is where I found them. It may/may not be the same tomorrow.

Originally Posted by jawjatek

Are you working the jig or letting it sit?

Moving the jig.

Trust me: switching from a bare hook to a jig head was a revelation.

Great report - with a bad ending - hope you can get a replacement tip. You guys would be shocked the way I fish the inexpensive JDM rods.

Broken rods happen, I have broke 2 already this spring. Mostly cheap ones. I replaced them with higher priced rods, we will see. If they come with a recommending 2-4# line, then that's what I use.

Dang dude, I read this post last night before I went to bed and had nightmares about breaking JDM rods. I feel your pain, I broke a Majorcraft TripleCross back in the winter while taking it apart to stow it. Rammed the tip right into the side of the truck. I replaced the top section and put the rod right back into the rotation. Nice catch on the Crackers, a great way to fill the freezer. I prefer a #8 hook on a jig head, seems to get a better hook up rate for the Gills, do not catch many Crackers in the lakes I fish locally so you may need the bigger hook for the bigger Panfish.

I moved some posts to a new thread:

https://www.crappie.com/crappie/panf...ooking-issues/

Well the replacement top section has been ordered. It will take a lot of bass fillets to make up for my $200 mistake, but so be it. I'll still release the LM, but a few of those 16"-18" spots better watch out for ol' Joe. You can better believe I'll be more careful with bigger fish from now on. Today I started building my hard case for the rod. The top section should be here in time for the shellcracker spawn on this particular fishery.

Also just got Mega+ SI unit to install, but I'm putting it on the kayak first, so I can scan for beds. Yes, I spent a lot of money on fishing gear this weekend, and the rest I wasted.